the city
Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia is located in the south of the metropolitan city of Naples, in that place between the end of the area of Vesuvius and the beginning of the peninsula of Sorrento.
Famous for its shipyard which built the famous training ship ”Amerigo Vespucci” of Marina Militare, Castellammare di Stabia has its name because of an ancient Castle in the sea built by the Dukedom in Sorrento; we add ”Stabiae” because of the city destroyed by the eruption of the Vesuvius in the 79 BC whose testimonies are found in the well-known Roman villas: Villa Arianna e Villa San Marco, located in Varano hill.
Castellammare di Stabia has about 50 Catholic churches, divided in 19 parishes. The most important is Santissima Maria Assunta e San Catello Cathedral built in 1587 in which the estimated remains of the saint Catello – the patron of the city- are preserved.
Also, it’s worth mentioning Santa Maria di Pozzano basilica shrine located in the hill of the same name and built in the XVI century; it still has got the table which illustrates Pozzano Madonna, patron of Castellammare di Stabia, and was found miraculously in a well.
the surroundings
Ruins of Pompeii
Pompei is the most famous archaeological site in the world and it’s nearby B&B Rodoflor. Well-know for its ruins and its shrine, Pompei is a global tourist destination. You’ll be totally enchanted by the Roman atmosphere which is still intact after centuries. The Beata Vergine del Rosario Shrine is one of the most visited Marian shrine in the world which attracts thousands of devoted especially in occasion as the supplications on the 8th of may and on the first Sunday in October.
The archaeological excavations of Pompeii have returned the remains of the ancient city of Pompeii, near the hill of Civita, at the gates of modern Pompeii, buried under a blanket of ashes and lapilli during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79, together with Ercolano, Stabia and Oplonti.
Distance from Rodoflor: 6,5 km
How to arrive: Circumvesuviana Train
THE surroundings
Ruins of Herculaneum
Located in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum (Italian: Ercolano) was an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in 79 AD. Its ruins are located in the comune of Ercolano, Campania, Italy.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famous as one of the few ancient cities that can now be seen in much of its original splendour, as well as for having been lost, along with Pompeii, Stabiae, Oplontis and Boscoreale, in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that buried it. Unlike Pompeii, the deep pyroclastic material which covered it preserved wooden and other organic-based objects such as roofs, beds, doors, food and even some 300 skeletons which were discovered in recent years along the seashore. It had been thought until then that the town had been evacuated by the inhabitants.
Herculaneum was a wealthier town than Pompeii, possessing an extraordinary density of fine houses with, for example, far more lavish use of coloured marble cladding.
Distance from Rodoflor: 22 km
How to arrive: taxi; Circumvesuviana train and the bus until the Park entrance
the surroundings
Vesuvius
Vesuvius is one of the two active volcanoes in the continental platform of Europe but also one of the most studied and dangerous in the world because of its explosive features and the amount of people who live nearby. It attracts a lot of tourists not only thanks to the visit over the crater, but also thanks to National Vesuvius Park – created on June in the 1995 because of the great geological, biological and historic interest it is.
Mount Vesuvius is best known for its eruption in AD 79 that led to the burying and destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae, as well as several other settlements. More than 1,000 people died in the eruption, but exact numbers are unknown. The only surviving eyewitness account of the event consists of two letters by Pliny the Younger to the historian Tacitus.
Distance from Rodoflor: 22 km
How to arrive: taxi; Circumvesuviana train and the bus until the Park entrance
the surroundings
Sorrento
Sorrento is a really famous tourist destination. The main square is Torquato Tasso who was born there. The main street begin from that square: Corso Italia, Veniero Square and Angelina Lauro Square. Moreover, Sorrento is an important connection for all the cities and islands close by.
The Sorrentine Peninsula has views of Naples, Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri. The Amalfi Drive, connecting Sorrento and Amalfi, is a narrow road that threads along the high cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Ferries and hydrofoils connect the town to Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Ischia. Sorrento’s sea cliffs and luxury hotels have attracted celebrities including Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti.
Distance from Rodoflor: 19 km
How to arrive: Circumvesuviana Train
the surroundings
Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast is a part of Campania Coast – located in the south of Sorrento peninsula- which is the opposite part of Salerno gulf. It is delimited by Positano to the west and by Vietri sul Mare to the east. It is a really famous coast in the entire world thanks to its natural greatness which attracts a lot of tourism. Considered as a world heritage by UNESCO since 1997, it takes its name from the city of Amalfi which is the nucleus for geographical and historical reason.
Here you can find some of important places in the Coast:
Amalfi (31 km from Rodoflor), Atrani (32 km), Cetara (37 km), Conca dei Marini (29 km), Maiori (37 km), Minori (35 km), Positano (29 km), Ravello (37 km), Vietri sul Mare (33 km).
the surroundings
The three big islands
Capri coast is indented and full of bays, caverns and cliffs. Those caverns, hidden under the cliffs, were as nymphaeum of stunning villas built during that period by Romans. The most famous one is Azzurra Cavern whose magical effects were described by a lot of writers and poets. The centre of Capri is the well-know square which attracts thousands of tourists and elite people from every corner of the world every year.
Distance from Rodoflor: 35 km
How to arrive: ferry-boat from the port in Castellammare
Ischia is the third most populated island in Italy thanks to its 64.115 inhabitants -after Sicily and Sardinia. It is also called ”Green Island” because of its naturalistic greatness. Well-known for its wine and alkaline thermal baths, Ischia became a symbol of great cooking and wellness.
Distance from Rodoflor: 78 km
How to arrive: ferry-boat from the port in Sorrento or in Naples (molo Beverello)
Procida is a little island and unfortunately not really famous, but really worthy to visit. You’ll be totally enchanted by those colorful houses and by roads made in tuff. The most high elevation is Terra Murata hill which is overheated by a medieval fortified village.
Distance from Rodoflor: 69 km
How to arrive: ferry-boat from the port in Naples (Molo Beverello)
the surroundings
Vico Equense
Vico Equense is a little city in Sorrento peninsula, located at almost 8 km from Castellammare. Some testimonies of the past are Annunziata Church which is a rare example of gothic architecture in Sorrento peninsula. The breath-taking panorama made the church defined as the most beautiful church in Italy by Marco Polo website. Then, we have Giusso Castle constructed by Angevin on a cliff overlooking the sea; the Mineralogical Museum and the interesting Antiquarium full of ancient objects.
Distance from Rodoflor: 8 km
How to arrive: Circumvesuviana Train